Chapter 9
Kannon
Nice and slow, I extracted oil from a white flower and added the liquid to a glass bottle with lavender oil inside.
Earlier in the week, Neptune told me his brother and his father had been suffering from joint pain, so I made them the concoction I used to make my grandmother.
I never felt obligated to impress anyone’s family but my own.
However, Neptune’s tribe meant the world to him.
It wouldn’t kill me to ease their pain and stay in their good graces.
When my music went off, I grabbed my phone, knowing it was about to ring. I smiled when Neptune’s picture covered my screen, instantly ushering butterflies to my gut.
“Damn, you fine,” I answered with no shame.
“You look better. I don’t see you in your glasses too often. What are you over there doing?”
“Making your family a natural pain reliever, and before you say something smart, say thank you.”
Neptune’s dimples peeked through when he licked his lips. “Thank you, Kitty. How do you know how much of each ingredient you need if you don’t use measuring tools?”
“Most times I do, but I’ve made this blend so often, it’s second nature.” I sat upright and gave the handsome man my attention. “You look like you’re busy, but don’t forget to pencil me in. Did you forget about our agreement?”
He shook his head from side to side. “We can make it a two-for-one special. How do you feel about going to an escape room? The last time I asked, you were tripping about your hair.”
“I feel like we would have a ball, and I can prove I’m smarter than you.”
“Oh, really? How about you ride out with me today?”
My posture crumbled. “I can’t. I agreed to cover for my coworker. She’s six months pregnant and coming in after her ultrasound appointment.”
“Nice ass,” Neptune muttered. “I hope she does the same for you when you’re round and brown.”
“Oh, goodness. Here you go.”
“Yeah, here I go. You agreed to pick up somebody’s shift when you look like you need a nap.”
I palmed my forehead. “I know. I’ve had the same headache for days. Probably because Junior has been blowing me up. I know Kasey told him you popped up at Yari’s salon.”
“So what? There ain’t a nigga alive or dead that should have you stressed to where you’re feeling off.”
“I’on like that,” I mocked him before he could say his infamous line.
“You think it’s a game, Kannon, but I’m serious. You keep playing, and I’m going to really show you how to kidnap somebody.”
“Is that a promise? The thought of me, you, your tongue, and my pussy locked away sounds like a lovely idea.”
Neptune chuckled as he rotated the camera so I could see one of the twins was in the car. Embarrassed, I dropped my head and waved.
“Lift your head up,” Neptune demanded. “There ain’t nothing to be embarrassed about. This nigga knows you sit on my face.”
“Oh my God. Bye, Neptune!”
“I’m going to come see you later. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I passed up the chance to hang out with Neptune, only to be told they did not need my help an hour after I showed up at work.
A part of me was pissed, but when I entered the recreation room and spotted my favorite lady in a chair near the window, I couldn’t be too mad.
Ms. Mosby hadn’t been feeling her best lately, so I had a moment with her every time I was on duty.
“Hey, pretty lady.” I placed my hands on top of hers as I sat beside her.
She smiled when I appeared, but her concentration remained on the large yard beyond the window.
“Are you over here getting a tan?”
“Baby, this chocolate was God given. I don’t need all that,” she replied in a sassy tone.
“I know that’s right. Are you feeling better today?”
“Better.” Her eyes drifted to me. “You’ve been looking like you’ve been feeling real good lately.”
I snickered and closed my eyes, gathering thoughts of the man I loved.
“Who’s the man, little girl?”
“What makes you think my happiness results from a man?”
“I’ve been around long enough to know what I’m talking about before I run my mouth.”
A flaming blush attacked my cheeks when I pressed my chin into my shoulder. “His name is Neptune. It may sound cliché, but I’ve known him less than a year, but it feels like forever.”
“You just blushing,” she sang. “He must be a good man.”
“Some people may not agree with that. On paper, he’s actually a bad man.”
“Is he good to you?” I didn’t let a second pass before I nodded. “Then that’s what’s important, especially since you’re about to have his baby.”
My spine snapped straight. “What? Things haven’t gone that far.”
“Trust me, things have gone far enough. I’m sitting in the sun, but you’re glowing.”
For the last couple of weeks, Neptune had been hinting at me carrying his baby. My periods had been irregular since I started taking birth control, so not having one for months didn’t raise alarm. Now that my elder said I had a bun in the oven, I considered the possibility.
“You don’t seem happy about being a mom, Kannon.”
“I’m conflicted,” I admitted while checking my surroundings. “Our families had issues in the past. I don’t know if they’ll accept our relationship, let alone a baby.”
“Then you need to worry about the family you’re creating and not the one you came from.”
The headache I had been fighting caused my temples to throb. “That sounds easier said than done. I’ve met his father, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. I know Neptune will do anything for me, and I don’t want to be the reason he has issues with his family.”
“Girl, please. I better not hear about you stopping that man from being thorough. Anyone who doesn’t fuck with his big baby and little baby can get the boot.”
I wasn’t sure if Ms. Mosby’s advice came from a place of love or our shared rebellious nature, but I soaked up her words like a sponge.
“Let me ask you something, Kannon. How much are you willing to sacrifice in order to make your family work? All that single woman talk goes out the window once you’re somebody’s mama.”
A soft laugh slipped past my lips. “It hasn’t been confirmed.”
“Yes, it has. The Lord told me so.”
Once I left the nursing home, Ms. Mosby’s words nurtured me on my ride to meet my brother.
I didn’t know if the glow she saw was for everyone’s eyes, but I prayed Junior didn’t see it.
The only thing I wanted to share with him was my connection to Neptune.
Adding pregnancy to the conversation would’ve been like shooting him instead of slapping him.
I was a few blocks from the restaurant when my father called. I thought to let the phone ring, but I wanted to hear his voice to gauge rather I was on his good or bad side. I wanted to see if he would mention Neptune being at Yari’s shop.
“How are you, baby girl?”
“I’m okay. I would be better if—” I paused, stopping myself from expressing something I’d said to him too many times. “I’m good, Daddy. I’m on my way to meet Junior at Zell’s diner. How’s your trip going?”
“I’m here to take care of business,” he replied. “Speaking of business, have you heard from the Sinners since you met with Ryan’s son? Has anyone bothered you?”
My mouth went dry. My father was never a man who minced words, but he could also be calculated. If he was asking about Neptune, I was certain he knew Neptune was still around.
“No, no one has bothered me,” I replied, purposely emphasizing the part of his question I could be truthful about. “Anyway, how long will you be gone?”
“I’m not sure right now, but when I come home, I want to have a dinner with you and your siblings. Make sure you’re available.”
“I got you.”
The line went quiet, causing me to call his name.
“I’m here,” he stated. “Are you sure everything has been good with you? I know I told you I would cut you off if you got into anymore bullshit, but you’ve been more quiet than usual.”
“I took your advice, and I’ve been lowkey.”
“Yeah, okay, Kannon. I love you, baby girl. I’ll see you soon.”
Right as I ended the call, I found a parking spot near the entrance of the trendy diner. Known for its menu and the staff’s themed uniforms, the Slyde City landmark was small, and there was always a wait to be seated.
“Look who finally popped out!” Junior pulled me into his chest. “Where have you been hiding? We spoke a handful of times since your sneaky ass went through my shit, but you’ve been lowkey for months.”
“Since you’ve barely called, I thought you were still upset.” I got comfortable in the booth across from him. “Somebody could have dumped me in a ditch, and you wouldn’t have known.”
“I heard you’ve been lying in a nigga’s bed.”
Dumbfounded, I nearly choked on my spit when he called me out. “What are you talking about?”
“You know what I’m talking about, Kannon. The streets talk.”
“I don’t know why they’d be talking about me. Is that why you asked me out for drinks? You wanted to pick my brain?”
The corners of his lips turned up, but there was a hint of annoyance in his brown eyes. “Why are you acting like shit is a secret? You’ve been around the city with that muthafucka.”
“Watch your mouth! You don’t know shit about that man.”
“And you do? You have no business fucking with him.”
“You’ve never been interested in my business before.”
Junior stroked his beard and sent daggers my way. “That nigga is playing you. There ain’t no way he’ll trust you, especially after what you did to him. You’re silly if you think otherwise.”
I had been so wrapped in bliss I hadn’t thought about the possibility of Neptune running game on me.
He had been a straight shooter since we crossed paths, and I didn’t believe he would create such an elaborate scheme to get revenge.
To be honest, the dimpled-face man didn’t have to, because he had me eating out the palm of his hand from the day he sent me flowers.
“Are you ready to order?”
I shook my head at the server, which prompted Junior to ask for a few more minutes to look over the menu. Once alone, I could feel him staring, but I wouldn’t give my brother my eyes.